Liverpool can exploit Fekir’s dwindling contract to get cut-price deal they wanted

Nabil Fekir’s projected summer move to Liverpool fell apart when the Reds wanted to cut down the asking price but the World Cup winner’s dwindling contract at Lyon could allow Jurgen Klopp to finally drive the cost of the deal down in January.

Liverpool looked to have a deal for Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir all sewn up before the Frenchman flew off to the World Cup, only for their last-ditch demand to lower the asking price to scupper the plan.

Of course, the Frenchman returned from his summer excursions as a world champion but the Ligue 1 side did not tie him down to an extended deal.

That means that going into the January window, Fekir has just 18 months left on his current deal and that may allow Jurgen Klopp to drive the price down in the mid-season window; just like he wanted to during the summer.

Liverpool have greatly missed Philippe Coutinho in certain matches against low defensive blocks this season and Fekir would be brought in to allow the Reds to break teams down in that type of game.

(FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Xherdan Shaqiri has done a better job than expected of being a cut-price alternative to Fekir, but reports in France suggest that Lyon want the Frenchman’s situation sorted out before Christmas, which may allow Liverpool an opportunity to swoop in.

If Fekir doesn’t sign an extended deal, his transfer value is only going to decrease and that is in turn only going to strengthen Liverpool’s position in any negotiations.